Posts Tagged "baseball"
Jun9

My Take on the NY Times Article: Putting the Pressure on a Diagnosis

Posted at 5:09 PM • No Comments
Thanks for coming back! I appreciate your viewing.

A recent article in the NY Times discussed the rise of anxiety cases in baseball.  As you read through the article my thoughts are italicized in orange. Original Article Here

The Dontrelle of Old

The Dontrelle of Old

Putting the Pressure on a Diagnosis

By Jim Luttrell

It used to be that people would question whether a player could handle the big stage in cities like New York and Boston. Now, though, there appears to be plenty of pressure off Broadway as well.

An excellent point here due to technology and media.  No matter where I am in the country I can follow my favorite team and players.  There is so much scrutinizing of these players through channels like ESPN, blogs (I try to always be constructive but I am still critical), and social media sites that have now added pressure to perform.  Somebody is ALWAYS watching.

This season, Dontrelle Willis of Detroit and Khalil Greene of St. Louis have been on the disabled list with social anxiety disorder. Cincinnati’s Joey Votto went on the D.L. last week for a “stress-related issue.” And of course, Zack Greinke of Kansas City, currently having a breakthrough season, battled social anxiety disorder and depression early in his career.

Social anxiety disorder may be a misdiagnosis.  It sounds more like generalized anxiety disorder.  Semantics, but none-the-less important from a professional viewpoint.  Dontrelle Willis completely imploded last year and has worked his way back to the majors.  Of course he’s feeling more pressure.  He went from one of the best pitchers to almost being out of baseball to being back.  That’s scary, frustrating, and anxiety inducing for anyone.  Let’s not forget that athletes are people too.  Think about your own job and if you were in a similar position, how would you psychologically respond?

While few doubt the pressure of playing at the major league level, at least one mental-health professional raised an eyebrow at the growing number of social anxiety disorder diagnoses.

“I’m very suspicious of that diagnosis,” said Dr. Allan Lans, a psychiatrist who practices in New York and has worked with athletes throughout his career, most notably as a member of the Mets’ staff. “It’s not like catching the chickenpox; there has to be a history.”

Wrong. You can develop it at any age. While Dr. Lans is correct about not catching it like chickenpox (bad analogy by the way), it can develop through changes in one’s life.  The players might be dealing with off-field things we don’t know about. They could be having marriage issues, family fights, issues with team management, etc.  It’s not simply about baseball.  Again, THEY ARE PEOPLE TOO!

Lans said social anxiety was a real ailment but was being overdiagnosed. Once a player reaches the majors, Lans said, the issue should not be a surprise.

Why not?

“What happens in baseball is that players, day after day, are performing in front of varying size crowds,” he said. “At a certain point, they blank out all that stuff and concentrate on their jobs. Repeated exposure is one of the most successful treatments. So for a guy who has been in the public eye to suddenly have social anxiety disorder is a little off the wall, in my book.

See the last 3 comments above.

“In baseball, you don’t hit most of the time and you make errors some of the time. You learn to deal with it. A person with social anxiety disorder would never have played to begin with.”

That’s inaccurate again.

A spokesman for the Tigers said the team could not discuss details of Willis’s case because of privacy laws. The Cardinals also declined to comment on Greene. But Brian Britten, the Tigers’ spokesman, said that Major League Baseball has its own doctors and will not allow someone to be put on the disabled list without cause.

Three recent cases involved players who were struggling, possibly for the first time in their careers. Greinke had had only one dominant season in the minors when he was rushed to the majors at 20. Willis, 27, has been unable to duplicate 2005, when he was one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers. Greene, 29, a former first-round draft pick, is in his second season with an average in the low .200s.

Players could be “finding an excuse for why your performance isn’t what it was before,” Lans said. “Look, there are certain instances where it is a real issue, and you’d probably find it’s been there all along — going back to childhood, 7 or 8 years old. So I don’t want to say it doesn’t exist. But you can’t suddenly develop it because you’re not having a good year.’’

Why is it an excuse?  There is so much stigma still attached to mental health you would think a psychiatrist would say “yeah mental health is a real issue, athletes are susceptible too”. Need more examples of athletes dealing with mental illness read this. There is no study that says anxiety issues have to develop as a child.  If that is the truth then why can’t some players play in bigger markets? (I’m looking at you Edgar Renteria.)  I’ll tell you why, added stress which leads to more anxiety!  It’s disappointing for me to be part of the psychology field and still deal with peers who fall into this old school way of thinking.  It’s time to start looking at situations for what they are and accept athletes as people not some strange mutant that is immune to life.

For more information about mental performance as well as overall athletic performance enhancement check out our websites. The links are on the right of the page.

Jun2

What To Do With David Ortiz – An Analysis of a MEGA-Slump (Part 2)

Posted at 2:37 PM • No Comments

I finished the first post on this topic by stating that part two of this post will explore how to take a break when you are part of a team.  This is a significant issue because it is not as easy just going away.  There is accountability to the other players and coaches.  (At the pro level there is accountability and financial concerns with management.)  So as a player in a slump so bad that time off is needed, there are some important components to handling this appropriately.

If time off away from this team is going to occur there initially needs to be some clear guidelines that both the player and the team should follow.  It is important to remember that this is the responsibility of both parties, not simply the player or just the team.  This is an big step to take during a slump.  The guidelines will shape both the time off, as well as the player’s return.

For the player:

  • Understand what this short time of is.  It is to clear your head, relax, and get away from the sport.  It is not a time to train harder, work on a side project, or party.
  • You may be anxious to get back to your sport but don’t rush it.  Rushing only potentially exacerbates the situation.
  • Take time to set some new goals for when you come back.  Start fresh.  Treat your comeback like a new season.
  • This is not the time to fix mechanics.  You will do this when you come back.

For the team:

  • It needs to be made clear that this is NOT a punishment.  It is for the players benefit.  Yet it should be emphasized that it is not a “spring break” type of vacation, it is a relax and take it easy vacation.
  • The player should not feel as if there place on the team is threatened.  If they were batting 3rd in the lineup when they left, they bat 3rd when they come back.  Otherwise the player will be resistant to the break and/or more stress will be added.
  • Regular contact should be made to check in but the player should have some space.  Again, the goal is to allow the player to get away from the sport.

After the short time away the player should start slow.  Set small goals (for example, just make solid contact during a few at bats, then look for hits) and focus on the basics.  Treat it like a new season with no expectations.  You cannot change the past (and it may be too much to completely make up for), so focus on the present. Slumps are difficult to manage but with some patience and an attention to your mental skills any player can work through it.

For more information about mental performance as well as overall athletic performance enhancement check out our websites. The links are on the right of the page.

May29

What To Do With David Ortiz – An Analysis of a MEGA-Slump

Posted at 10:17 AM • One Comment
Maybe it's time for a short vacation

Maybe it's time for a short vacation

If you follow baseball you probably know that the DH for the Boston Red Sox, David Ortiz, is in a slump of multiple lifetimes.  In this post I hope to explain what may help him change but also debunk some common thoughts about his slump.  This will also serve as a lesson to any athlete in any sport about how to manage a slump.

A slump is a decline in performance that is beyond the normal struggles of an athlete.  To be in a slump it cannot be due to age or injury.  The assumption is that nothing physically is wrong.  I am also going on the assumption that Performance Enhancing Drugs are not part of the equation.  Although I would even argue that even if PEDs were part of the problem (or the lack of use of PEDs) his slump would not be this bad.  Lets first look at some hard facts, below are his stats for his career.

ortiz_stats

Two areas I highlighted are batting average and slugging percentage because this will give good perspective on his overall hitting and hitting for power.  A few points stick out when looking at this info.  His average was lowest when he hit his most HRs (2006) but the following year (2007) he hit 19 less homeruns (he was dealing with a knee injury) but increased his average by almost 50 points.  Additionally, his slugging percentage was similar for both years which shows that he was still hitting for power.  In 2008 there is a sharp decline in all of these categories but he was also out with wrist injury for two months and was not the same when he came back.  So, you could argue he’s not fully healed but then the Red Sox would have put him on the DL, you could argue that he’s getting old but he is only 33.  Again, I do not believe this has to do with steroids, even if he was coming off steroids it would be fair to assume that he would have a couple more homeruns and a higher slugging percentage.  

My answer to fixing this slump is simple.  TAKE A MINI-VACATION. He needs to take considerable time off but not too much.  Take 10 days, do not hit, do not practice, and just relax.  The 60 day DL or minor league assignment does not help him.  Sixty days is too long and more at-bats is not necessarily the issue.  He needs to clear his head, completely.  The time off should be non-baseball related.  He can workout but should stop swinging.  It’s a hard thing to do but it needs to happen.  Then comeback and re-work his swing.  He’s at the point where he’s tried everything else.  So giving him something do not is not the answer, instead give him something NOT to do. 

My reason for this is not so simple.   His stats show a dramatic dropoff.  One that defies most logic.  Compare him to another struggling hitter this year, Jimmy Rollins, who is a lead off hitter, not a power hitter and his stats are still better despite a huge drop off.  (Rollins has 3 HRs and a slugging percentage of .332)  So what’s the problem?  Starting with Ortiz’s swing, its looks bad and uncomfortable.  Working out the kinks during a game is hurting the team and frustrating him more.  Fixing flaws when you are in a big slump rarely works.  That methods is better suited for early on in slumps.  Beyond his mechanics, he is clearly pressing; he’s trying too hard.  Also I think his expectations of his own performance for the season were too high.  He wants to prove it wasn’t simply Manny hitting behind him that made him great.  He wants to separate himself from the steroid era.  But forget all of those reasons, at this point he is just trying too hard.  He’s not seeing the ball well because his focus is on trying to get a HR, instead of seeing the ball and reacting.  Yes his swing looks slower but it’s probably because he’s trying to guess pitches (big mistake at any level) due to his current lack of confidence.  These expectations and decisions can turn from positives and motivators to built-in excuses and reasons for lowering one’s confidence.  For example, to “help” take the pressure off of him the Red Sox moved him down to 6th in the line-up.  He still looks the same (1-7 as of this post) and now his failures probably feel worse and are more frustrating because he’s hitting in an “easier ” spot.

This should be a lesson for any athlete.  Sometimes during a slump you need to step away from the sport.  In rare situations like this trying to use imagery, relaxation skills, or set new goals does not necessarily help.  When you have tried everything and there is no physical ailments, take some time for yourself.  It’s asking too much of yourself to change mentally when you are faced your with slump everyday.  Taking a small break is not admitting failure, it is giving yourself a chance to succeed.

*PS- Part 2 of this post will explore how to take a break when you are part of a team.

For more information about mental performance as well as overall athletic performance enhancement check out our websites. The links are on the right of the page.

Apr21

Preparing for a Long Season

Posted at 8:37 AM • No Comments

 

It's A Long Season, How Are You Preparing?

It's A Long Season, How Are You Preparing?

With the start of baseball season there is some key components to how you prepare to go through a long season. Even at the lower levels of baseball the season is a grind. Baseball seems the most dramatic because of the amount of games but most sport season are a grind. As you prepare to actually go into the season and try to perform your best there are some key things you want to be aware of.

 

Your goals should not be focused on each individual game. The goals should be long-term, allowing yourself the opportunity to be at your best over a period of time, not just on one day. By focusing on one day/one-game you are actually allowing yourself an easier time to fail and not meet expectations. Yet do not mistake the fact that your focus and preparation is important for each game.

For each game you want to have the same type of preparation. You want to approach the game the same way each time and play the same way you know how to. That should be your only expectation during the long season. In baseball, you also want to be aware of your role is and what the coach expects of you. If you’re someone is expected to get on base often, then having a goal of improving your home run amount by 10% is not helping anybody.

Also, in a sport like baseball, a lot of physical motions are used in the same situation over and over again. For example, being at bat or pitching the ball are routine and rhythmic motions. Make sure you have routines/rituals that allow you to be ready and prepared each time the situations going to occur. They should be that you feel the same every time and that your approach is the same whether it’s the first inning, third inning, or bottom of the 9th. The power of a routine is in preparation is one area during a long season where you can feel comfortable, keep your confidence level up, and minimize any slumps.

Be patient and remember that a long season is collection of smaller pieces. Be prepared for the small pieces but don’t get discouraged by the small mistakes.

For more information about mental performance as well as overall athletic performance enhancement check out our websites. The links are on the right of the page.

Mar13

Pitching Momentum

Posted at 6:19 AM • No Comments

 

As The Pitcher You Are In Control

As The Pitcher You Are In Control

Controlling momentum can be very difficult in sports and especially as a pitcher in baseball. One wrong pitch can extend an inning, lose a lead, or even give the other team hope and confidence. The question is how can a pitcher overcome this potential momentum swing? The answer to this problem is applicable to other sports and situations and can be broken down in three basic steps.

 

First, as the pitcher you can dictate the pace of the game and the time you take between pitches. Make sure to slow down and calm yourself. You want to be able to think clearly and rationally, make sure that you are choosing pitches that are appropriate and not trying to do too much.

Second, make sure you are using relaxation techniques. You want to be in control of your breathing and calm, you can’t perform your best if you are breathing hard and shaking. Take deep breaths and clear your mind.

Third, be positive that all of your routines are being done and being done at a comfortable pace. Nothing can lead you to being more out of control than rushing or not complete your routines. Your routines are what focus and center you before the pitch, so don’t let them go away.

For more information about mental performance as well as overall athletic performance enhancement check out our websites. The links are on the right of the page.

Jun16

Trying Too Hard?

Posted at 6:16 AM • No Comments

Year after year as sport fans we see teams/players in the playoffs or championship of their sport trying too hard. Initially it seems like an unlikely thing to do, how could an athlete try too hard? Don’t we expect our favorite athletes to give it everything they have. Of course we do, but it’s not that simple. There is a difference between trying too hard and giving 100% of their effort.

Think back to the 2007 NLDS playoff series this year between the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies. As soon as the Phillies fell behind to the Rockies you could see the players trying to hit almost every ball out of the ballpark and pitch every ball perfectly. They strayed from their “let loose” approach that got them into the playoffs and instead panicked. Meanwhile, the Rockies were just playing baseball without trying to do something different. The Rockies players were never seen trying to do more than they had to.

Another example in baseball is game 4 of the 2007 ALCS between the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Red Sox. The Indians had a lead of 2-1 in the series so in game 4 they played loose, took chances and never pressed despite being shutdown in the first four innings. On the other side the Red Sox played like a frustrated and flat team. Consistently batters were swinging too hard, changing their approach or simply not performing. Yes, Cleveland’s pitching staff has done well but by trying to do too much and play a different way than normal the Red Sox continue to struggle in this series. It is easy to argue that getting a lead early helps but the Indians lost the first game badly behind their ace pitcher and did not change their approach in game 2, showing that they had confidence in their abilities.

The simple lesson is that when you find yourself in a tough situation try to stay calm and focus on doing what you normally do. That is what got you there in the first place. So make sure you have clear and consistent routines and your strategy is planned out ahead of time because no matter what sport you play you never want to be caught trying too hard.

For more information about mental performance as well as overall athletic performance enhancement check out our websites. The links are on the left of the page.